Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 743

"……Ilia's age and ability do not match. However, as she serves as Lord Holst's personal guard while diligently practicing daily, the day the Ten Wings become Eleven may be near."

Ibi reported this in a thoughtful tone.

Since I saw Ilia with Holst in Zubera's royal capital, Bestia, the 'personal guard' part must be true.

"Is that so? I was looking forward to meeting her, so that's a bit disappointing. Please give her my 'best regards'."

"As you wish."

When she bowed, the sound of armor scraping echoed, followed by a heavy, dull footstep.

"I apologize, but we have little time. Lord Ridd, may we continue the introductions?"

"Y-yes. Of course."

The one who emerged from beside Ibi and cast a shadow over me was a birdman clad in full armor, with a stature of about three meters.

He seemed to have enormous black and white wings on his back; if he spread them, he would be larger than Elba. Judging from his terribly low, gruff voice, he seemed to be male.

As I half-recoiled and responded, he stood at attention and bowed formally.

A sound like a deep breath inhaling from inside his helmet began, and Ibi, along with the other members of the Ten Wings, started covering their ears with both hands.

Huh? What's going on?

"Let me reintroduce myself properly!"

"Wh...at?!"

Just as I tilted my head, a thunderous voice roared from him, shaking the very air.

A tingling shock ran through my entire body, I felt the ground shake, a rustling noise came from the nearby plants as they rubbed together, and dust clouds swirled and were blown away around us.

"My name is Redbear Padgury! I serve as the Third Wing of the Guardian Ten Wings [Brute Truther]! I understand my master's word is absolute, therefore I guarantee your safety until you reach the Horse Tribe territory, therefore, please rest assured!"

Redbear finished speaking, but my head was spinning, and a ringing tinnitus sound was in my ears.

My mind went blank and I felt like I might lose consciousness, but I snapped to and smiled warmly.

"...Yes, I understand. Lord Redbear, thank you for your polite greeting. But, you don't need to raise your voice that much, it reaches us just fine, so from now on, a normal speaking voice is perfectly alright."

"Oh, I am humbled. Being an ugly man who cannot remove his helmet in public, I tend to become loud. Then, I shall do so from now on."

"A-ahaha. Pleased to work with you."

At Redbear's slightly muffled voice, I gave a wry smile while scratching my cheek.

Looking around, Tink and Capella, along with the members from Baldia and the Christy Trading Company, were stunned, holding their ears.

If someone shouts that loudly, of course they would be.

Still, 'I understand my master's word is absolute'... huh.

The 'master' probably refers to Holst, but I sensed no lie in his words.

Nor did he seem to be under any hypnotic magic like I experienced.

I don't know Redbear's race, but I could sense from his mana that he is a considerably powerful individual.

For him to have such high loyalty... does Holst unexpectedly have the trust of his men?

Or perhaps, he is just skilled at controlling people.

Well, judging from that man's personality, I think it's the latter.

As Redbear saluted and stepped back, the next one to come forward was the man called 'Endio' who had tried to lay hands on the soldier earlier.

He relaxed his mouth into a grin, bowed exaggeratedly with grand gestures, and gave an ostentatious, deliberate bow.

"Fourth Wing of the Guardian Ten Wings, Endio Padgury. Once again, pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Yes, likewise."

With this type, the more you react to their every move, the more they'll get carried away and keep provoking you.

Pretending to be calm and handling it dispassionately is probably the best move for now.

When I just smiled back without saying anything, Endio shrugged his shoulders as if bored and stepped back.

"...I'm next, I guess."

The one who came forward looking annoyed was a woman with flowing pink long hair, with slightly pointed ears peeking from the sides.

She had glossy black-green wings on her back and a tail reminiscent of the Monkey Tribe.

"Fifth Wing of the Guardian Ten Wings, Ruzanda Padgury."

After saying that and bowing, she stepped back without even waiting for my reply.

I was taken aback by her complete lack of approachability, and the smallest woman among them came forward as if to replace her.

She had platinum blonde hair grown out untidily, with a mouse ear growing only on the left side of her head.

On her back were beautiful blue wings and a tail that evoked the Mouse Tribe.

She was expressionless, but with very fine features, a beauty.

"Sixth Wing of the Guardian Ten Wings, Reia Padgury. It's only for a short time, but please treat me well."

Reia bowed, and when she raised her face, she glanced sideways at Ruzanda, who had returned to the group of Ten Wings.

"And, let me apologize on behalf of Ruzanda for her behavior just now. She's not good at formalities."

"Is that so? I understand, please don't worry about it."

Thank goodness, it seemed Ibi wasn't the only one in the Ten Wings who could hold a proper conversation.

I was patting my chest in relief when I heard the sound of a winged insect from somewhere.

Glancing around, a large bee was flying around us.

"A noisy bug."

The moment Reia muttered that, her hair moved as if alive, sharply, and with a platinum gleam, it sliced the bee in two.

"Huh...?"

When my eyes widened in surprise, she bowed and said, "Ah, my apologies for startling you."

"That was my magic. I activated it without thinking. Please pay it no mind."

"That was magic...?! Ah, um, if it's possible, could you teach me how it works later? I'm fascinated by magic."

Having seen such magic for the first time, my eyes were shining.

What sliced the winged insect was undoubtedly Reia's hair.

Probably, it's a type of magic where mana is channeled into the hair via enchantment and manipulated by the caster.

It seems to be a similar principle to the 'Magic Cloth Technique' Curtis taught me, where cloth is enchanted and manipulated.

Reia looked surprised and blinked, but soon her expression softened slightly and she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but this is my own unique magic, not something I can teach to others. Please forgive me."

"Ah, I thought it might be. I'm sorry for making such a rude request. It was just a wonderful magic."

"'A wonderful magic,' is it? This is the first time I've been told that. We don't have time this time, but perhaps if there's an opportunity another time, we might be able to talk."

"Really?! Please, when that time comes, I look forward to it. I'll be waiting expectantly."

"Understood. I will also look forward to it."

She bowed, turned on her heel, and returned to the group.

"...I can see why Ibi is concerned."

Reia seemed to mutter something as she returned, but it was a whisper and I couldn't quite catch what she said.

"U-um, er, well, n-next is me, oh, I mean, me, ah, it's me."

The next one to approach was an overly nervous man with a horn on the right side of his head reminiscent of the Cow Tribe, and only a long horizontal ear on his left ear.

He had large, light brown wings on his back, and a long tail was visible at his feet.

He was slouching and looked somewhat small, but if he straightened his posture, his height would probably exceed 2 meters.

His appearance was unkempt: messy, bushy black long hair, a pale, sickly grayish complexion, hollow, stagnant eyes, and his face was clearly pale.

He looked like a sick person, but he carried a mismatched, bright red, enormous scythe on his back.

"I-I'm, the S-Seventh Wing of the Guardian Ten Wings, Tes-Padgury, I mean, am, ah, that is."

"Y-yes. Pleased to meet you."

I nodded, flustered by Tes's utterly unstable speech and behavior. He smiled happily and muttered to himself, "Hehe, I, I did it, a proper, proper, greeting. Ah, I did it, ah, managed it," as he went back.

I was dumbfounded, and as if replacing Tes, a polite-looking young man came forward, took a single rose from his pocket, and suddenly knelt before me.